This year has to be the best autumn I can remember in the many years that I've lived in London. The colours of the leaves are absolutely breathtaking. I'm fortunate enough to live across the road from Tooting Common, a three square mile space of parkland comprising both woodland and areas of park for the public. My sitting room is south facing so a major sun trap and looks out over the Common. I can sit in an armchair and see the beauty of the huge oaks, beeches, chestnuts and others, hear the birds and feel as if I live in the middle of the countryside. The only wake-up call is the passing traffic!
I've been having Personal Trainer sessions twice a week on the Common across from my home and what better place to work out than under the shade of a huge tree that every day changes colour. It is absolutely magical. I sometimes wish that I was capable of painting as the autumnal colours and textures are crying out to be captured with a paint brush. Hey ho, an iphone will have to suffice as all of the following photos were taken on my iphone. Enjoy!
School children walking through the Common with their teachers. I wonder if they even notice the beauty of their surroundings?!
Lying on my mat about to do sit-ups. What a view!
View from my exercise mat. My PT hands on hips waiting for me to stop talking!!
Another view from my exercise mat!
I'm sure some of you in the northern hemisphere are having a similarly beautiful autumn. Do share with me some images of the colours of your autumn.
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We’ve come to the 9th and final day of my day trips to Sussex to find tiny ancient churches. I certainly saved the best until last as these little churches blew me away with their beauty - in the centre of a village, in the middle of a field, hidden down a farm track, on the top of a hill ………
Apologies for taking so long to post the 8th day trip visiting churches in Sussex. The delay is due to my moving to Sydney to live in late October. As you can imagine it was a bit stressful in the weeks prior to departure. Once I arrived in Sydney I had to find a home to rent (another story!). If you are interested in following how I furnish my Victorian rental house in Sydney’s Paddington, on a budget follow me on Instagram (@angelabuntcreative.com
I’ve called Day 7 ‘Churches in Sussex’ for consistency but in fact it involved churches in Surrey and Hampshire! I had planned to visit Sussex churches but I decided to combine a visit to a friend in Hampshire.
After five of these day trips in search of historic little parish churches in Sussex, I couldn’t wait to research and plan the next one. I was still fixated on Sussex so this time I selected the following six churches and one historic house, Firle Place.
Day 4 included a visit to Great Dixter gardens. Given that it’s a fair schlep to Great Dixter, I identified three beautiful Kent churches to visit in the vicinity.
I was really starting to enjoy these days out on my own with my camera so decided to venture back into Sussex a week after the previous trip, armed with another list of churches.
If you read my previous blog post, Visiting Churches in Sussex (day 1), you will know that I am doing day trips to Sussex in search of the little churches often found in woodland, at the end of lanes, in hamlets or villages – steeped in history. I’ve focused on Sussex as it’s not too far to travel by car and it’s a beautiful county.
I decided not to have a summer holiday this year and instead do day trips to Sussex which is only about 80-90 minutes from home, on my own with my DSLR camera for company. I wanted to focus on visiting historic little Sussex churches in obscure places.
This post is for all you garden lovers. If you are lucky enough to live in London you have the chance to see the gardens of Petersham House, the home of the owners of Petersham Nurseries, Gael and Francesco Boglione. Their home is adjacent to the Nurseries and is a stunning Georgian house with extensive gardens, swimming pool and tennis court. They have a substantial vegetable garden which is used for the restaurant in the Nurseries.
I am delighted to announce that in September 2019 I became a published photographer, that is, I had my first ever photographs published in a book, The Gardener’s Travel Companion to England, by well-known Australian author Janelle McCulloch which features a variety of beautiful English gardens.